Reps move to empower NJC on sack of judges

A bill to empower the National Judicial Council, (NJC) to be more involved in sacking erring judges scaled Second Reading at the House of Representatives, yesterday.

The bill, which seeks to alter Section 292(1)(A) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) was sponsored by Garba Datti Mohammed.

Leading debate on the Bill, Mohammed said the proposed amendment was aimed at ensuring “judicial officers serving as heads of courts are not victimised through removal by executive fiat acting in concert with the legislature without any established or verifiable evidence.”

He added that the bill it if passes into law would subject the removal of judicial personnel serving as heads of courts established under Section 6 (5) of the Constitution, l only upon the advise of the NJC so as to ensure consistency in the process.

“On many occasions, judicial personnel have been removed from office on trump up allegations without recourse to a body charged with the constitutional responsibility to investigate and recommend appropriate disciplinary action.

Speaker Yakubu Dogara, who presided at plenary, referred the bill to the Committee on the Review of the Constitution.